The Philippines is eyeing the expansion of agricultural exports to Italy to meet the rising demand for local products in the European country, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Monday, Oct. 21.
DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said this was an offshoot of the meeting with Italian Minister of Agriculture Francesco Lollobrigida on World Food Day, Oct. 16 wherein the ising demand for Philippine products in Italy was discussed.
The demand, laurel said, was driven by the presence of over 200,000 Filipinos in Italy.
The DA chief said he is optimistic about “expanding exports to include tuna, pineapples, frozen fish, carrageenan, and desiccated coconut.”
“Philippine agricultural exports to Italy in 2023 totaled $129 million, led by crude coconut oil,” the DA noted.
According to the agriculture department, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from the Philippines have already made inroads, promoting Philippine cuisine and food products in Italy.
The DA acknowledged the role of the Filipino community and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce in Italy in raising awareness and stimulating demand for such exports.
Lollobrigida, meanwhile, invited skilled Filipino fishermen to enhance Italy’s fishing industry.
Beyond exports, both countries are working on a draft memorandum of understanding (MOU) aimed at promoting agricultural modernization in the Philippines.
Laurel stressed the importance of Italy’s world-class agricultural machinery and expertise in water management, which could help the Philippines address key challenges in its agricultural sector.
“Italy’s agricultural machinery industry is world-class, and the Philippines can greatly benefit from this expertise as we modernize our agricultural sector,” said Laurel.